Homely hounds compete to be crowned World’s Ugliest Dog
In this June 20, 2014, photo, Quasi Modo, a ten-year-old mixed breed from Florida, walks across the stage during the World’s Ugliest Dog contest, at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif.
In this June 25, 2010, photo, Kathleen Francis, of Clearlake, Calif., holds her purebred chihuahua, Princess Abby, after winning the World’s Ugliest Dog contest in Petaluma, Calif.
PETALUMA, Calif. – He’s overweight and has a birth defect that left him a bit hunchbacked.
Quasi Modo is a 10-year-old pit bull-Dutch shepherd mix who was leading the World’s Ugliest Dog contest, with nearly 10,000 votes by Friday. Resembling a hyena or Tasmanian devil, he can unsettle some people, but he makes up for it with a bubbly personality, his biography says.
Quasi Modo was far ahead of No. 2 Morris, a mutt who looks a little like a pig with a spiky haircut and has garnered more than 5,000 votes.
The two are among 27 dogs vying for the title of homeliest hound, which has been given to a pooch in the small California coastal town of Petaluma for decades. Dogs arrived from as far as Florida, Idaho, Nevada and Arizona to compete in a contest that applauds imperfections.
The winner will receive $1,500 at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds.
Several of the competitors were rescued from shelters, puppy mills or abusive homes. This year features a new “spirit award,” honoring a dog and owner who have overcome obstacles or are providing service to the community.